smith



(No Model.) 7 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. N. SMITH.

MAGHINE FOR SETTING LAGING HOOKS.

No. 392.831. Patented Nov. 13, 1888.-..

WITNEEIE 6 N. Perms, Phwulm h". Wzshingmn. n. c

(No Model.) I 4 SheetsSheet 2.

S. N. SMITH. MACHINE FOR SETTING LACING HOOKS. I

No. 392,831. Patented Nov. 18, 1888.

INVEN 'TDR.

sk-8 8mm. 88cm 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

s'. N. SMITH. MACHINE FOR SETTING LAOING HOOKS.

Patented Nov. 13, 1888.

WITN EEEE I ENTCTH, 511% N15 an.

N. PETERS. Phatolilhagnpher. Wmhinglnn. D..C

(No Model.) 4 Sheets -Sheet 4.

S. N. SMITH.

MACHINE FOR SETTING LAGING' HOOKS.

N0. 392,831. I Patented NOV. 13, 1888-.

F FIGIIZ INVENTL'IH.

S KQM m N w llmrnn Sirarns tries.

MACHENE FOR SETTING LACBNG=HOOKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 892,831, dated November 18, 1888.

Application filed May 5. 1888. Serial No. 272,897. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN N. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Provi deuce, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Automatically Setting Lacing Hooks or Studs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inven tion, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to machine for automatically feeding and setting lacing hooks or studs, the hooks having a base portion provided with a spiral which is pressed firmly upon the surface of the fabric.

My invention consists in the combination, with feeding mechanism, of an anvil adapted to be intermittently revolved and arranged to receive the hooks singly and a setting-plunger. It also consistsin the novel construction and combination of some of the subsidiary parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In United States Patent No. 309,l6tl,grantcd to me December 9, 1884, I have shown, described, and claimed therein a machine for I setting the more common forms of lacinghooks.

In my present invention the object has been to produce a machine adapted to automatically pick up,feed,and insert and secure lacingstuds to shoes, or other articles of wearingapparel. The studs employed have the fastening end provided with upper and lower flanges or plates between which the leather or fabric is compressed or clamped, thereby preventing the studs from turning. In the machine represented herewith the hopper or reservoir in which the loose studs are placed, the pick-up arms mounted therein, the mechanism for revolving the pickup arms, and the track or runway leading from the hopper are substantially the same as those shown and described in the patent above referred to. There is this difference, however:

In the latter case the leather or fabric is placed face side up upon the anvil, whereas in the present machine the work is reversed, the stud being underneath at the time of its attachment.

An advantage of the type of lacing-stud shown herewith is that only a comparatively small hole is required in the leather for the reception of the stud, the hole, in fact, being considerably smaller than that necessitated by the use of eyelet shoe-studs. Moreover, the two base-plates of the present studs shank ofi'er a much greater area or holding-surface to the leather than the ordinary eyelet-studs.

In the accompanying four sheets of drawings, which illustrate my improved machine for automatically feeding and setting lacing studs or hooks provided with a double-flanged shank, Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents a side elevation of the upper portion of the machine in its normal position, a stud being in position (reversed) in the anvil, the leather or fabric resting upon the stud and immediately preceding its insertion therein, and also prior to the downward movement of the plunger. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the stud and fabric,corresponding to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the reversed stud. Fig. 4 is a View of the stud after it has been screwed into the fabric, which is accomplished by a revolution of the anvil. Fig. 5 shows the stud rigidly secured to the fabric by the action of the plunger. Fig. 6 is a plan View of the fabric and fastenershown in Fig. 5, and also showing a small hole for the reception of the next stud.

Fig. 7, Sheet 2, is a side elevation of the machine in partial section, showing the relative position of the parts corresponding to the setting of the stud. Fig. 8 is apartial transverse sectional view taken through line :0 ac of Fig. 7, showing the feeding-finger in the act of descending to force a stud from the track to the convcyer. Fig. 9 represents the same forcing a stud ahead. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the track with the studs removed.

Fig. 11, Sheet 3, is a plan view of the machine in partial section, the several parts corresponding to the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 12 is a vertical central sectional view taken through 2 2, Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a partial plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 11, the anvil being in position to receive a new stud. Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view taken through 12 '0, Fig. 13. Fig. is a transverse sectional view taken on line to w of Fig.

11, showing the position of the studs as they emerge from the hopper. Fig. 16 is a similar view taken on line or :0, Fig. 11, showing the stud in position to be fed to the conveyor.

Fig. 17, Sheet 4-, is a side view of the hopper and a portion of the track leading therefrom, a portion of the hoppers cover being broken away. Fig. 18 is a plan view in partial horizontal section, showing the device for lockingthe conveyer,&c., in position while the feedingiinger conductsa stud into the channel leading to the anvil. Fig. 19 is an enlarged side view of the anvil and connected parts. Fig. 20 is a vertical sectional view taken through the center of the anvil; and Fig. 21. is a side view of the feeding finger or pawl, 850., in partial section.

The following is a more detailed description of my improved machine for setting lacingstuds, and the manner of its operation. I will first, however, describe the lacing-stud, for the setting of which the present machine is more especially adapted.

Referring again to the drawings, (t designates the stud complete, consisting of the rounded front or top, f, the upper plate, 0, the offset or hook portion Z uniting said front and plate, the bottom plate, 0, and the reduced central stem, d, uniting both plates. The plate 0 is cut through from its edge in an eccentric manner, as shown in Fig. 3. The portion thus cut is bent outwardly, thereby producing somewhat of a spiral form, as shown in Figs. 2 and 1-.

A indicates the main frame or head, to which the several parts constituting the machine are attached. Said frame may be secured to a table or bench, if desired. The frame is made quite heavy in proximity to the anvil and is provided with an overhanging extension in front to receive the plunger H, in which, at its lower end, is fixed thesetting-toolf, which serves to first flatten the bent portion cof the stud a, and finally to compress the two plates 0 cinto close contact with the respective sides of the fabric Z.

To the frame A is pivoted at a a workinglever,B, the front or free end of which engages the plunger H. Motion may be imparted to said lever by means of a treadle mounted to vertically reciprocate the rod D, the latter being jointed to the rear end of the lever B, as shown. By means of this arrangement the plunger is forced downwardly by the upward movement of the rod, a spring, m, serving to return the lever, &c., to the normal position, a spring, 8, mounted in the frame, also serving to return the plunger to its normal position immediately the leverB is retracted.

A shaft, t, is mounted in the frame A. Said shaft is provided with a six tooth ratchetwheel, T, which latter is intermittently actuated by a pawl, m, mounted on an arm or downward extension, m of the main lever B. By means of this arrangement it is obvious that the shaft will be revolved one sixth of a lution of the gear L.

revolution by each vibration or double stroke of the working-lever. To the end of said shaft is secured a wheel or arms, 7c, adapted to pick up more or less of the studs alying in the stationary hopper O and transfer them to the track K, substantially as shown in my patent before referred to. V (See, also, Fig. 17.)

A pin,g, is secured to the rear portion of the lever B, which is adapted to work in a cam-shaped slot, 9, formed in the upper portion, Z, of a doublclever,whiehlatter is mounted on a pivot, Z", secured to the frame A. The lower portion, Z of said lever is slotted at e to receive a pin or roll, 0', secured to the-side of a guided cross head, E. By this arrangement the cross-head is reciprocated back and forth in unison with the movement of the lever B; but in view of the cam portion of the slot 1 it will be seen that the cross-head remains stationary in its rearward position a short time just before and after the termination of each downstroke of the front portion of the work ing-lever, as shown in Fig. 7.

e designates a vertically-mounted shaft located in line with but at the rearof the anvil. (See Figs. 11 and 12.) The base of the frame is enlarged at this point, and cut out underneath to receive a gear-wheel, L, (shown seetionally,) which is secured to the lower portion of said shaft. A six-tooth ratchet-wheel, c", is secured to and snrmounts the shaft. Now, to revolve the shaft a hook-pawl, p, is pivoted to the cross-head F, the levers, 850., being so proportioned that the wheel L is revolved just one-sixth of a revolution at each rearward movement of the lever Z. A spring, 8, serves to maintain the free end of the pawl in contact with the ratchet-wheel. The stroke of the cross-head, however, somewhat exceeds the movement necessary to revolve the wheel 0 the distance just stated. The reason. for this will be explained later on. A pin, a-, mounted in the under side of thebed, Fig. 12, and bearing against the gear-wheel L, in connection with an interposed spring, 1", serves as a friction-brake to the wheel, thereby preventing the latter from acquiring momentum while being revolved by the action of the cross head, &c.

F indicates the anvil as a whole, the same consisting, essentially, of the vertical .shaft mounted in the front portion of the base, which is enlarged at a for the purpose. The lower end of the anvil is stepped into and revolves in a bearing, a. (Shown sectionally in Figs. 12 and 14.) A small gear or pinion, L, is secured to the anvil-shaft and arranged to mesh into the gear L before described, the relative sizes of the two gears being, as drawn, '6 2 1, or, in other words, the anvil makes one revolution during and by one-sixth of a revo- The upper end of the anvil extends above the top of the base, and is provided with a transverse T-shaped opening, '0, extending from the side of the anvil to the center, as clearly shown in Figs. 12, 19, &e., the form of the opening being such that a stud may be readily conveyed from the track and placed centrally in the anvil. A groove is cut vertically in the anvil,the same extending from the upper side of the gear to the transverse opening 12 A key or spline, n, is fitted to slide freely up and down in said groove while the anvilis being revolved. The object of this keyis to retain the stud in position during the attaching operation. Thelower end of the key is provided with a head, 22, which projects laterally beyond the anvil. A spring, to, secured to the pinion L, bears against the under side of the head, thereby serving to keep the anvil-opening o closed, and also,as before stated, preventing the stud from becoming accidentally displaced. A cam lug, w, is formed on the under side of the base, (inside,) its form and arrangement being such that the splineis forcibly withdrawn from the mouth of the slot u just prior to the termination of the anvils revolution, so that when it (the anvil) arrives at a state of rest the T- shaped opening 0*, in which the conveyer j) is mounted, coincides exactly with the then uncovered opening 1)" of the anvil. The said conveyerp is secured to a block, a, fitted to slide freely in a groove or Ways formed in the frame. A pin, it, passes through the block transversely, and is connected with a spiral spring, at, at its rear end, as clearly shown in Fig. 11. The pin also passes through an elongated opening, a", of the frame. The front portion of the pin extends sufficiently to engage an adjustable stop, a, secured to the end of the cross-head E. By means of this device the convcyer is retracted by the action of the spring m immediately the cross-head returns on its rearward stroke, the parts a and a being in contact until the latter reaches its limit at the end of the slot a, the length of said slot being such that the mouth of the track or runway K is uncovered by the eonveyer at thesameinstant. (See Fig. 18.) Theeontinued rearward travel of the cross-head carries the stop it away from the pin, as shown in Fig. 7, the conveyer then being stationary and permitting the finger h to engage with and force a stud into the opening 0 ready to be carried forward into the anvil by the conveyor on its return stroke.

To the side of and forming the front edge of the opening 0 is mounted the plate 0. The same is provided with an extension at its rear end arranged to engage a counter-extension formed on a hook-plate, a, secured to the crosshead E. (See Fig. 18, &e.) The plate 0 is slotted at 0 to receive a screw, which is tapped into the frame. A lug or notch, 0 is also formed in the plate 0 contiguous to the slot 0, as shown. Pivoted to the frame A are the two connected arms or levers I) and b the former being the shorter lever, lying in a nearly horizontal position, its free end being in contact with a spring, b. The other lever is nearly vertical, and is adapted to engage the notch 0, before described. The normal action of the said spring and levers is to keep the plate 0 in the forward position, as shown in Fig. 11, thereby forming a T-shaped opening, 0, having closed sides throughout; but by reason of the interlocking of the parts 0 and n the latter in its rearward movement carries the plate rearwardly to its limit,(against the tension of the spring 11",) and forms the side opening, :0, through which,when thus uncovered,the work may be removed from the machine after the stud hasbeen attached to the fabric. A springactuated pivoted lever, d provided with a hook at its front end engaging with the arm b serves to maintain the opening :0 until automatically released by the device about to be described. As soon as the cross-head corn mences to return on its forward stroke the hook-plate n will move away from the rear lug of the plate 0, the latter meanwhile being stationary and held in a locked position by the forward end of the lever d. A downwardly-extending tripping-pin, d, is mounted in the cross'head, the same being arranged to engage a beveled face,cl ,of the holding-lever. The cross-head, nowin its forward movement, causes the pin (1* to engage the rear end of the lever, thereby forcibly withdrawing it from the arm I)", when the spring I) immediately acts to close the opening as through the medium of said pivoted levers I)" If.

The acting parts of the machine are so timed that the joint operation of the several devices is substantially as follows: I will first assume, however, that the hopper G is pro vided with a quantity of the hooks or studs a, and that the operating-rod D is connected with a trcadle or lever, and, further, that the machine is in the position represented in Fig. 1, wherein a hook stands in position in the anvil to be inserted and attached to the fabric Z, resting upon the hook. New, upon moving the rod D in the arrow direction, the first result of such movement will be to vibrate the lever Z Z,which draws the eross hcad rearwardly and causes the pawl 19 to close the space 99, Fig. 11, lying between the end of the pawl and the adjacent ratchet-tooth, thereby allowing the spring on to retract the carrier 9 from the notch c, it being remembered that the pin a bears against the stop a of the crosshead. The continued movement of thelever, &c., next engages the pawl with a tooth ofthe ratchetwheel e and rotates it, thereby turning the wheel L and the anvil F. At the commencement of rotation the lower end of the sliding pin 1) is bearing against the stationary cam or lug w, the spring 10 insuring a contact of said parts. A very small axial movement now carries the pin past the lug. The spring immediately forces the pin upward, thereby closing the anvilopening c and thus keeping the stud in place. New, by holding the fabric or material I in position (the bent portion 0" of the studs base being entered intoa hole, l',) the revolution of the anvil easily screws, as it were, the base 0 through the fabric into the space lying between the flanges or bases 0 a. (See Figs. 2 and 4.) During the final upward movement of the rod D the working arm or beam B forces the plunger H downwardly and, by means of the clinching die mounted therein, flattens the bent portion 0" of the stud down upon and at the same time compressing the two base-flanges into the interposed fabric, thereby firmly attaching the stud, as represented in Figs. 5 and 6. During the upward movement of the rod the pick-u p arms 70 will be revolved through the mass of studs lying within the hopper, and as the disk comes to a state of rest an arm will coincide with the track K and permit any studs carried by said arm to slide therefrom onto the track, as shown in Fig. 17. At the time the pin it reaches the rear end of the slot a the conveyerp will have reached its extreme movement, thereby uncovering the mouth of thetrack K. (See Fig. 13.) The beam B, by reason of its engagement with the stop 2', forces the feedingfinger h downwardly, thereby engaging and separating the column of studs and positively placing a stud into the grooved track 0. (See Fig. 9.) Rigidity ofthe finger is overcome by the springs 71,2 h &c. During the rearward movement of the cross-head the plate 0 is forced to the rear (by reason of its engagement with the hookplate a, Fig. 18) against the arm I), resisted by the tension of the spring Z), and past the front end of the pivoted hook-lever (i The spring 1) causes the lever to automatically lock the arm b thereby forming the side opening,

zr",'in the grooved track, as shown in Figs. 7 and 13. At the extreme of the rearward move ment of the cross-head the gear-wheel will have been revolved just one sixth of a revolution and a consequent movement of the anvil of a complete revolution. Now, upon gradually lessening the pressure on the rod D, the spring m will act to return the several parts to their normal positions; but as the plunger H commences to rise, through the medium of the inclosed spring 8, the operator pushes the work rearwardly from the anvil and permitting the head portion of the attached stud to be passed laterally through the said side opening, 00 thereby removing the work from the machine. As hereinbefore stated, the pin 12 is withdrawn just prior to the termination of the anvils movement. A further movement of the crosshead in its forward stroke first unlocks the arm b 'through the agency of the pin dfwhich engages the beveled end d of the lever d and withdraws the front end of the lever from the said arm, and allows the spring I) to instantly force the plate 0 forward to its limit, and thus close the opening 00 About this time the head of the screw u will engage the overhanging portion of the pin it, and thus force the carrier, with its stud, (next to be attached,) forward along the groove 0, the adjustment of the parts being such that the stud is placed just centrally within the head of the anvil. At the same time the month of the track K is closed, and as the cross head arrives at a state of rest the pawl 11, with the parts just referred to, will be in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 7.

During this movement the feeding device will be forced upwardly to its limit by means of the inclosed spiral spring h, a spring, 8, performing a like office to the plunger H. The several parts of the machine are now in position to repeat the operation of setting or attaching the lacing-studs, the construction and arrangement being such as to insure rapidity of action, positive and rigid attachment of the studs to the fabric or material, and unusual facility and efliciency in its operation.

It is obvious that the relative proportion of the gears L L may be changed, at the sametime making a corresponding change in the number of teeth in the ratchet wheel 6.

I do not limit the essential parts of my present invention to the combination with the hopper, pick-up fingers, and track and feeding finger, as represented, as other arrangements there for may be substituted without departing from. the spirit of the invention. The machine is also well adapted to attach other forms of studs or fasteners by a slight change in its construction.

I prefer to provide the upper portion of the anvil F with a capped sleeve having an opening therein adapted to receive and retain the studs, as shown enlarged in Figs. 19 and 20, and snugly fitting the reduced portion of the shaft.

I claim as my invention 1. The machine,substantiallyashereinbefore described, having an anvil arranged to receive thelacing-studs singly, mechanism for conveying the studs from a reservoir to the anvil, a movable stop mounted at the rear of the studs for closing the mouth of the anvil,and mechanism, substantially as described, for intermittingly revolving the anvil in a continuous direction.

2. In a machine for attaching lacing studs or books, the combination,with feeding mechanism and an operating setting-plunger, of an intermittently revolving anvil adapted to receive the studs singly, and a device consisting of the spring-actuated pin V, fitted to work in a vertical groove formed in the anvil, for automatically opening and closing the stud-channel leading to the anvil,whereby the work with the stud attached may be removed from the machine, substantially as hereinbefore described.

3. The combination, with feeding and set-- ting mechanisms, of a rotary anvil constructed to receive a lacing-stud, and a spring-actuated pin fitted to and revolving with the anvil arranged by means of said spring and a cam, as w, to alternately open and close the mouth of the groove .or channel formed in the anvil through which the studs enter, substantially as hereinbefore described.

4:. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with a plunger mounted to attach lacing-hooks and an intermittingly-revolving anvil having an opening in its face to receive the studs, of a pin loosely mounted vertically in the anvil, arranged to automatically close the mouth of said opening, and a device for automatically withdrawing the pin from the opening just prior to the completion of the anvils revolution, substantially as hereinbefore described.

5. The combination, in a machine of the class described, of asetting-plunger, an intermittingly and continuously revolving anvil constructed to receive the hooks singly, and having means for automatically opening and closing the mouth of the anvil while the lat ter is revolving, a conveyer for conducting the hooks from the track and placing them into the anvil, and a sliding plate, as 0, mounted and arranged to automatically open and close the track, whereby the work can be readily removed from the machine, substantially as hereinbefore described.

6. lhe combination, with a setting-plunger, a revolving anvil having transverse opening, as o to receive the lacing-studs, and a conveyer, as 19', arranged and working in the same plane as said opening o", of a reciprocating cross-head, a plate, as 0, arranged to engage the cross-head, a spring-actuated lever, as If, engaging said plate, a lever, as d, arranged to lock the plate in its rearward position, thereby opening the track, so that the work, with the attached lacing-hook, can be removed from the machine, and a tripping-pin secured to the cross-head arranged to release the locking-lever (Z upon its engagement therewith, thereby permitting the lever b to automatically close the track-opening in advance of the cross-heads movement, substantially as set forth.

7. In a machine for attaching lacing studs or hooks, the combination of a hopper, an inclined runway leading therefrom to the track which communicates with the anvil, arms arranged to pick up the hooks and conduct them to the runway, a spring-connected feeding finger for intermittingly placing a hook into said track, an anvil intermittingly revolving in a continuous direction in the same plane and arranged to receive and retain a hook, a reciprocating conveyer for conducting the studs from the track to the anvil, means for automatically withdrawing the conveyer from the anvil, a springactuated pin for closing the month of the anvil during its revolution while inserting the book through the fabric, a setting-plunger arranged to firmly attach the hook after the anvil has completed its revolution, means for withdrawing the said springaetuated pin to uncover the mouth of the anvil just prior to the termination of said revolution, and a device for automatically opening and closing the track adjacent to the anvil to permit a removal. of the work from the machine, the whole arranged and operating substantially as shown and hcreinbefore described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

STEPHEN N. SMITH.

Witnesses:

Gno. H. REMINGTON, CHARLES HANNIGAN. 

